Michael Carrick apologises for Manchester United display

19 February 2016 09:53

Michael Carrick has apologised to Manchester United fans after the team produced a performance in Thursday's Europa League defeat at FC Midtjylland for which he felt there could be "no excuses".

The latest substandard display of United's increasingly troubled season saw them throw away the lead to go down 2-1 in the last-32, first-leg contest in Denmark - a result set to be looked back upon as one of the most embarrassing in their European history.

Eight hundred Red Devils supporters made the trip to the MCH Arena in Herning for a match that cost Â£71 per ticket to attend, and it was clear what some of the fans thought of what they had seen for their money at the end, with chants of "we're f*****g s**t" coming from the away section.

United boss Louis van Gaal subsequently admitted when asked about the criticism: "Maybe they are right."

And midfielder Carrick, who wore the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney, told MUTV: "I can't knock the supporters, they were incredible.

"They've been great throughout my time at the club, especially during the last couple of years when they haven't had much to shout about.

"They've stuck with us and travelled to support us so I can only apologise.

"Hopefully we can give them some reward for the unbelievable support they've shown both the players and the club."

United had 13 senior players they could not call upon for Thursday's game due to injury and illness, with goalkeeper David de Gea the latest to join the list after sustaining a knee problem in the pre-match warm-up that forced him out of the first XI.

But Carrick stressed: "You can talk about injuries but, irrespective of that, we can't make any excuses.

"To come here and lose is nowhere near good enough.

"The only positive is that we've got another chance at it (in the second leg), but it doesn't really change the fact that we were simply nowhere near good enough."

United led through Memphis Depay's 37th-minute finish, but Pione Sisto levelled seven minutes later as he took advantage of a Carrick mistake, and Midtjylland substitute Paul Onuachu then fired in a fine strike 13 minutes from time.

Although they also hit the crossbar via Jesse Lingard with the score at 1-1, the visitors did not threaten a great deal overall and De Gea's replacement Sergio Romero was key in ensuring they did not suffer a heavier defeat.

The final score that did emerge from the game means United have every chance of securing progress to the last 16 when they host Midtjylland in the second leg next Thursday.

But the fact they will have to come from behind in the tie against an outfit only formed in 1999 - the year the Old Trafford club won the Champions League as part of a famous treble - says much about how badly things are going for Van Gaal and his team at the moment.

With his side six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in the Premier League with 12 rounds of top-flight fixtures left to go, the Dutchman had admitted before the Midtjylland match that the most viable-looking way for United to secure a route into next season's Champions League would be winning the Europa League.

Thursday's encounter will have done nothing to boost confidence on that front, though, as the scrutiny on the Dutchman's position continues to grow - along with talk he could soon be replaced by Jose Mourinho.

Before the second leg takes place, United are in action in another cup competition as Monday sees them play an FA Cup fifth-round tie at League One outfit Shrewsbury.

Van Gaal may well be worried, given the present state of affairs, that he and his players could be in for another uncomfortable evening.